as in increased
being at a higher level than average
for a time there was an escalated interest in the historical figure following the release of the blockbuster biography
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rose
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerated
to make greater in size, amount, or number
the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalated
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The interview escalated after host Branson Quirke made remarks that Riddle appeared to find disrespectful.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
As the aggression escalated, Bennis made the difficult decision to remove the bird.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
Matters escalated further this past summer during a dispute between Renner, Washington, Renner’s mother, and Washington’s wife outside of Renner’s home.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The exchange only escalated from there, with Minaj going on to continue to mention Cardi’s children and also accusing various figures in the music industry — notably her favorite target Roc Nation — of backdoor dealings to undermine her career.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As the fight escalated within the embassy, Manes engaged in an increasingly open clash with Bukele.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
Last week, as financial panic escalated following Milei’s party’s poor showing in local elections, Argentina’s central bank spent more than $1 billion of its foreign currency reserves to keep the peso from collapsing.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
When Lara unveiled his overhaul of the premium setting process, adopting an approach insurers supported, the feud escalated.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
The number of state executions has drastically escalated since President Massoud Pezeshkian took office in July 2024.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The interview escalated after host Branson Quirke made remarks that Riddle appeared to find disrespectful.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
As the aggression escalated, Bennis made the difficult decision to remove the bird.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
Matters escalated further this past summer during a dispute between Renner, Washington, Renner’s mother, and Washington’s wife outside of Renner’s home.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The exchange only escalated from there, with Minaj going on to continue to mention Cardi’s children and also accusing various figures in the music industry — notably her favorite target Roc Nation — of backdoor dealings to undermine her career.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As the fight escalated within the embassy, Manes engaged in an increasingly open clash with Bukele.
—T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
Last week, as financial panic escalated following Milei’s party’s poor showing in local elections, Argentina’s central bank spent more than $1 billion of its foreign currency reserves to keep the peso from collapsing.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
When Lara unveiled his overhaul of the premium setting process, adopting an approach insurers supported, the feud escalated.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
-
The film opens with a celebratory raid on an ICE facility to free detainees, and shows government agents coldly executing unarmed suspects and sending an undercover agent into a peaceful protest to throw a Molotov cocktail to justify increased force.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Febrile seizures, while frightening, haven’t been associated with any long-term health effects, the CDC says, and there’s no increased risk for the combination MMRV vaccine in children ages 4 to 6.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This set of seven makeup brushes comes in a leather case with a shiny rose gold finish.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
-
When the sun rose on the 17th, it was revealed that the colonists—possibly out of a last-minute change of plans, possibly out of moonlit confusion—had built a rough defensive fort on the other hill, Breed’s Hill.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Artificial intelligence has accelerated demand, creating an urgent need for more efficient infrastructure.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
-
At the same time, by driving down costs through scale, China has accelerated clean-tech uptake in countries from Pakistan to Brazil to Indonesia.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Educator turnover in Wisconsin public schools has decreased from pandemic highs but remains elevated.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The protests then swelled to wider calls to stamp out corruption, repression and rising crime under President Dina Boluarte’s rule.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
By the time the five members of Tomorrow X Together (TXT for short) appear, not from the stage but through the pit doors, weaving past the barricades and into the sea of fans, the noise has swelled to seismic levels.—
Crystal Bell,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two years later, President Biden expanded the protections so more Venezuelans who had arrived in recent years could benefit.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
-
What started as a walking tour of the historic Chickasaw neighborhood in 2012, during his years as president of the local neighborhood association, has since expanded to cover the other nine neighborhoods, after Taylor was awarded a fellowship through the Filson Historical Society in 2023.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Computer Mice Deals The Logitech G502 Lightspeed earned high marks from our expert thanks to great battery life and low-latency wireless connectivity.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The show boosted tourism and spending in Nashville, with one in five visitors citing it as a motivation to visit.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The overall trend has boosted a constellation of public and private companies involved in crypto.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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